You are also wrong! Electronics hardware is disassembled by reverse engineers. Some hackers also might be able to extensively modify electronics, but no majority of hackers are capable of such feat. Also only few engineers are able to hack networked systems or are members of underground comunnity.

When you want access to particular system, you try all possibilities that your skill level allow. Guessing the password, using exploit if available or social engineering your way in. This does not make difference how you are called.

Crackers always get their panties in a bunch when you call them out.

Hackers modify hardware and software. Some hackers are Crackers.

You expressed your disagreement with the original meaning of the work "hacker", however I missed the part where you actually explained why you do. Some hackers (In the original meaning) break into computer systems as well, both my first message in the thread and the articles I pointed to acknowledge this fact, It's not clear to me if you interpret this as a confirmation than "to hack" means to break into computer systems; that would be a non sequitur.


I agree but this is unrelated to the issue and likely to invite flames as the following one.


I'm fine with site defacing because it's a resounding way to expose a hole and force a fix, it can prevent a harmful attack. Of course, I would prefer a bug report but some sysadmins/webmasters will ignore them. nhodges is totally missing the point with his message in mi opinion.

Most people don't understand the difference between damaging tangible items in real world and damaging virtual files in computer systems. As a person who spends most of his life in virtual world, I can see the differences between virtual and real world clearly. The people who don't understand the virtual world are trying to enforce real life rules in virtual world. And as a result actions in virtual world can result in consequences in real life. It's absolutely wrong.


Back to original posting that started thread. The Bitcoin is convinient means of payment. It have all the advantages that is mentioned in Bitcoin website. And it's also perfectly suited for black hat activity both as means of payment for services, and as a source of income. No more private amateur porn from compromised accounts, wallet.dat is first thing to go.

btcguild banned a botnet and dropd its remaining balance in the bitcoin faucet, botnet owner got mad and ddos's them, btcguild users went to other pools. think a few others have been ddos'd off and on so its further pushed people into other pools. im too much of a noob to check out the differences between the pools, i just went with one of the bigger ones that wasn't being ddos'd.

This is what happens when you visit the seedy end of town 

I guess you're on the journey to the second type, but don't call anyone a hacker until you've earned your beard and sandals or you'll look like a member of the first group, and certainly don't call yourself one unless you're widely recognised as one by beards who call each other one, if that even makes any sense.

How did a thread about the stupidity of the skiddies at hackforums.net ended up on a semantics discussion?

Talk about off-topic... geezzz